Feds studying birth tourism as new data shows higher non-resident birth rates
Source: Feds studying birth tourism as new data shows higher non-resident birth rates | National Newswatch
OTTAWA ā The federal government is studying the issue of “birth tourism” with a view to better understand the scope of this practice within Canada and its impacts.
This comes asĀ new research publishedĀ by Policy OptionsĀ today shows the number of non-Canadian residents giving birth in Canadian hospitals is much higher thanĀ in figures reported by Statistics Canada.
Using numbersĀ from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, which captures billing information directly from hospitals, researcher Andrew Griffith found over 3,200Ā babies were born here to women who aren’t Canadian residents in 2016 ā comparedĀ with the 313 babiesĀ recorded by Statistics Canada.
AĀ petition tabledĀ recentlyĀ in the House of Commons by Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido calls onĀ Canada to take stronger measures to end birth tourism, saying it abuses Canada’s social-welfare system.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen responded sayingĀ his department has commissioned further research in order to get a better picture of theĀ scope of this issue and its impactsĀ in Canada.
Hussen also says Canada does not collect information on whether a woman is pregnant when entering Canada,Ā nor can aĀ womanĀ beĀ denied entry solelyĀ because she is pregnant or might give birth in Canada.
